The purpose of the study was to investigate the construct validity of the Scales for Rating the Behavioral Characteristics of Superior Students (SRBCSS). A confirmatory factor analysis was used to determine if items from the scales of Learning, Motivational, and Creativity Characteristics were able to identify separate homogeneous sets of behavioral characteristics of gifted and talented students.The subjects were 152 third- and fourth-grade students who had been identified as being potential candidates for inclusion in a program for gifted and talented students. SRBCSS forms were completed by regular classroom teachers. The sample was split to allow for cross-validation of results.Two nested three-factor models were established a priori. Maximum likelihood estimates were calculated using LISREL IV (Jorskog & Sorbom, 1978). Models were evaluated using the overall chi-square, residual matrices, the ratio of chi-square to degrees of freedom, increment of fit indices, and differences chi-square.The proposed structure of three-uncorrelated constructs was unable to reconstruct the obtained correlations. The three factors of Learning, Motivation and Creativity were necessary but not sufficient to describe the relationships among the scale items. Allowing the constructs themselves to be interrelated improved the amount of covariation among the items which could be explained. However, adding a fourth Nonconformity Factor provided a more plausible representation of the data than either three-factor solution.However, labeling of the factors may be somewhat ambiguous due to the nature of the factor loadings of the individual items on them. Cross-validation showed a similar pattern of coefficients for the second sample with some "shrinkage" effect.The results of this study suggest that the validity of the constructs of the SRBCSS as establishedin is questionable. While separate dimensions emerged, they were neither easily interpretable nor distinctly separate. It was not clear if the interrelationships of the scale items were due to a sharing of some underlying dimension or to their placement on the scales. In addition, it was suggested that some higher order factor might be needed to account for the relationships found in the data.

The purpose of this study was to construct and validate a parent rating scale to screen for individuals with nonverbal learning disabilities (NLD). Scale construction began with extensive literature review and concluded with the adoption of Rourke’s conceptualization of the NLD syndrome. The behavioral manifestations in the areas of language, academics, adaptive and socioemotional functioning of Rourke’s model were deduced to be reasonable NLD constructs for the parent rating scale. An Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) group was used to test the sensitivity of the parent rating scale in differentiating NLD from AS in view of their several shared characteristics. The literature supported the presence of “unusual, restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities” that typically are seen in AS but not seen in NLD as one probable differentiating factor. Hence, Likert scale items were written for 5 constructs - Language Assets and Deficits, Academic Assets and Deficits, Adaptive Deficits, Socioemotional Deficits, and Restricted Interests and Repetitive Behavior. Validation of the NLD parent rating scale began with data collection from the AS, NLD and Control groups. The NLD and AS groups consisted of parents of children who had been diagnosed in a clinical setting. The Control group children had never been evaluated for special education services by the school system or clinically diagnosed. Subjects were 14 in the AS group, 45 NLD, and 46 Control group. Discriminant groups validity test indicated that the AS, NLD and Control groups were significantly different from one another on the 4 extracted factors i.e., Socio-Conceptual, Asperger’s Syndrome, Adaptive and Learning Style. Thus, it may be concluded that the parent rating scale is discriminating in screening for individuals with NLD. The construct that most differentiates NLD from Control is the Socio-Conceptual deficits factor, which demonstrates the significant difficulty of individuals with NLD in interpreting the subtleties and nuances in social interactions and in understanding concepts. The NLD and AS groups were significantly different on the Learning Style factor but could not be differentiated on the other three factors, thus supporting literature that NLD and AS have overlapping characteristics and yet are distinctive disorders / Department of Educational Psychology

Objective. This thesis examines the extent to which an intelligence test, the Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales (RIAS), aligned with the Carroll-Horn-Cattell theory of intelligence in children ages 4-18 who are either typically-developing or who have a variety of clinical impairments. Other aspects of the RIAS’s construct validity were also evaluated, including its relationship with the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children – Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) and whether the RIAS measures intelligence in the same way in typically-developing children as in children with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate the fit of one-factor (g) and two-factor (Verbal Ability and Non-Verbal ability) models in each sample. Configural and measurement invariance of each model were evaluated across the typically-developing group and a group of children with TBI. Correlations between scores on the RIAS and WISC-IV were examined in a group of children with clinical disorders. Results. The two-factor model fit the data of both groups while the one-factor model provided good fit to only the typically-developing group`s data. Both models showed configural invariance across groups, measurement invariance of the two-factor model, and partial measurement invariance of the one-factor model (What`s Missing subtest unconstrained), but scalar invariance was not established for either model. RIAS’s verbal subtests and indexes correlated with theoretically consistent WISC-IV indexes but the RIAS’s nonverbal subtests and indexes did not correlate highly with WISC-IV performance subtests. All RIAS index scores were higher than WISC-IV index scores. Conclusions. Evidence for the interpretability of the NIX and VIX as separate indexes was not found. The VIX is a valid index of crystallized abilities but the NIX does not adequately measure fluid intelligence. The CIX appears to provide a valid measure of g, but may be overly reliant on verbal abilities. The RIAS has significant validity issues that should limit its use in making important decisions. / Graduate

This thesis compromise four studies, three regarding psychometrics and norms of parent rating scales, and one study regarding effectiveness of two different interventions. A normative sample consisting of 1443 parents with children aged 10 to 13 years old, was used in the Study I, II and III. In Study IV, 231 self-referred parents with children aged 10-13 years old with externalizing behavior problem (EBP) were randomized to either Family Check-Up (FCU) or iComet. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) used in Study I proved to be a reliable and valid instrument with high internal consistency, clear factor structure and high correlation with other similar instruments. In addition, the results support the online use of SDQ as well as using norms obtained through traditional administration even when the SDQ has been administrated online. The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) investigated in Study II was shown to have adequate reliability and construct validity. The specific use of expressive suppression or cognitive reappraisal as a parental emotion regulation strategy was correlated as expected to the couple’s satisfaction, family warmth, and the employment of adequate discipline strategies. Swedish norms for self-rated ERQs are also presented. Study III investigated the Parental Knowledge and Monitoring Scale (PKMS), which was shown to be a useful instrument for assessing parental knowledge and its sources. Family climate appears to moderate important relationships between parental knowledge and conduct problems with implications for such things as family interventions. Finally, a person-oriented analysis was used in Study IV to subtype the children according to combinations of prosocial behavior and EBP, such as different levels of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and/or oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) behaviors. Despite being a heterogeneous group of children with EBP, they were meaningfully grouped into significantly different profiles. Both FCU and iComet resulted in post-treatment measurement within non-clinical range for three of the five profiles. The two profiles that included high levels of ADHD behaviors at baseline assessment continued to have residual symptoms post intervention.

Gamification refers to the process whereby game design and game mechanics are applied in non-game contexts to influence behaviour. This research study explores the effects of gamification on piano students' practice of technical elements such as scales, chords, and arpeggios, within the private lesson environment. A control and a treatment group of 10 piano students each were formed across two different private piano studios. A game called Technique Tower was designed for the treatment group, in which the players experienced game elements such as rewards (points, badges, and levels), avatars, and the sharing of their progress in an online social context. Gamification was found to have a positive effect on the number of technical elements students mastered, and on their attitude toward practicing technical elements, while self-efficacy levels were not affected. The educational implications for this finding are discussed.

Gamification refers to the process whereby game design and game mechanics are applied in non-game contexts to influence behaviour. This research study explores the effects of gamification on piano students' practice of technical elements such as scales, chords, and arpeggios, within the private lesson environment. A control and a treatment group of 10 piano students each were formed across two different private piano studios. A game called Technique Tower was designed for the treatment group, in which the players experienced game elements such as rewards (points, badges, and levels), avatars, and the sharing of their progress in an online social context. Gamification was found to have a positive effect on the number of technical elements students mastered, and on their attitude toward practicing technical elements, while self-efficacy levels were not affected. The educational implications for this finding are discussed.

The theory of time scales is introduced by Stefan Hilger in his PhD thesis in 1998 in order to unify continuous and discrete analysis. In our thesis, by making use of the time scale calculus we study the oscillation of nonlinear matrix differential equations of second order. the first chapter is introductory in nature and contains some basic definitions and tools of the time scales calculus, while certain well-known results have been presented with regard to oscillation of the solutions of second order matrix equations and some new oscillation criteria for the same type equations have been established in the second chapter.

An experimental investigation of the mean scalar concentration field of jets into a uniform counterflow stream using planar laser induced fluorescence is presented. The centerline decay and radial spreading of the mean concentration field of the jet were investigated. Jet to counterflow velocity ratios ranging between 4 to 19 were used for two different jet diameters. Universal forms for the centerline concentration decay, and radial concentration profiles of the jet are presented. Scaling factors of the centerline concentration decay are introduced. The jet growth rate was found to be divided into two regions: the linear growth region and the power law growth region. The effects of inlet yaw angles on the penetration length, axial concentration decay and similarity region of the counterflowing jet are presented. A minimal effect of the tested inlet yaw angles on the concentration field was observed. Empirical expressions to predict the centerline concentration decay are given.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 69-78). / viii, 78 leaves, bound 29 cm

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